[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 62 (Monday, May 9, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2779-S2780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Ms. Ayotte):
  S. 910. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that 
veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive 
services in at least one full-service Department of Veterans Affairs 
medical center in the State or receive comparable services provided by 
contract in the State, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Veterans 
Health Equity Act of 2011. This bill would require the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to ensure that every State has either a full-service 
veterans hospital or, in the alternative, that veterans in every State 
have access to comparable in-state hospital care and medical services. 
I am pleased that my colleague from New Hampshire, Senator Ayotte, has 
agreed to be an original cosponsor of this measure.
  New Hampshire is currently the only State that does not have either a 
full-service veterans medical center or a military hospital providing 
comparable services to veterans. While the staff of the Manchester VA 
Medical Center does an excellent job of caring for our State's 
veterans, this facility does not provide inpatient surgical care, 
emergency services or care in a number of critical specialties. This 
imposes a great burden on many New Hampshire veterans who are forced to 
travel out of state for a range of medical services.
  New Hampshire has over 130,000 veterans and this number continues to 
grow as our troops return from major deployments in the Middle East. It 
is unconscionable that our veterans must board shuttles to larger VA 
facilities in Massachusetts or Vermont to get the medical care they 
have been promised in exchange for their service. Often, especially 
during the winter months, travel is difficult in New England, and our 
veterans should not be forced to drive long distances in order to 
receive the medical care they have earned and deserve.
  Our goal is to ensure that New Hampshire veterans get the care they 
need as close to home as possible. This legislation provides the 
Department of Veterans Affairs with the flexibility to achieve this end 
in the most cost-effective manner. If it is not feasible for the VA to 
construct a new full-service hospital in New Hampshire or to provide 
the full panoply of hospital services at its existing medical center in 
Manchester, the legislation simply requires the VA to contract with 
other health providers to offer comparable in-state care.
  I introduced similar legislation in the 111th Congress with our 
former colleague, Senator Judd Gregg. Since that time, the VA has 
established an effective contractual relationship with one hospital in 
New Hampshire, Concord Hospital, to expand in-state care for our 
veterans. I believe this type of partnership could be readily expanded. 
I have begun working with officials at the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to

[[Page S2780]]

find innovative ways to enhance public-private health care partnerships 
in New Hampshire and look forward to furthering that dialogue.
  Our veterans deserve access to first-rate medical care, regardless of 
where they live. There are full-service veterans hospitals in 47 States 
and veterans in Alaska and Hawaii are able to receive care at military 
hospitals. New Hampshire alone has neither. I am hopeful that my 
colleagues will recognize this inequity and support this effort to 
provide New Hampshire veterans with the same access to quality local 
health care that veterans in every other State enjoy.
  I look forward to working with the entire New Hampshire congressional 
delegation, with my Senate colleagues and with the Obama administration 
to end this injustice.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 910

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Health Equity Act 
     of 2011''.

     SEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF FULL-SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS IN CERTAIN STATES OR 
                   PROVISION OF COMPARABLE SERVICES THROUGH 
                   CONTRACT WITH OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN 
                   THE STATE.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 1706 the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 1706A. Management of health care: access to full-
       service Department medical centers in certain States or 
       comparable services through contract

       ``(a) Requirement.--With respect to each of the 48 
     contiguous States, the Secretary shall ensure that veterans 
     in the State eligible for hospital care and medical services 
     under section 1710 of this title have access--
       ``(1) to at least one full-service Department medical 
     center in the State; or
       ``(2) to hospital care and medical services comparable to 
     the services typically provided by full-service Department 
     medical centers through contract with other health care 
     providers in the State.
       ``(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in subsection (a) 
     shall be construed to limit the ability of the Secretary to 
     provide enhanced care to an eligible veteran who resides in 
     one State in a Department medical center in another State.
       ``(c) Limitation on Requirement.--Subsection (a) shall be 
     effective in any fiscal year only to the extent and in the 
     amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts.
       ``(d) Full-service Department Medical Center Defined.--In 
     this section, the term `full-service Department medical 
     center' means a facility of the Department that provides 
     medical services, including hospital care, emergency medical 
     services, and surgical care rated by the Secretary as having 
     a surgical complexity level of standard.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 1706 the following new item:

``1706A. Management of health care: access to full-service Department 
              medical centers in certain States or comparable services 
              through contract.''.

       (c) Report on Implementation.--Not later than one year 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report describing 
     the extent to which the Secretary has complied with the 
     requirement imposed by section 1706A of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by subsection (a), including the effect 
     of such requirement on improving the quality and standards of 
     care provided to veterans.

  Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise today to highlight the Veteran's 
Health Equity Act, a bill I am introducing with my colleague from the 
Granite State, Senator Jeanne Shaheen. I am pleased to support this 
bipartisan legislation that addresses an issue of importance to our 
Nation's heroic military veterans, especially in my home State of New 
Hampshire.
  As a military spouse, I personally understand the commitment and 
sacrifice required of our service members and their families, and I am 
fully committed to ensuring that our heroes have access to the support 
and care they have earned. The bill we are introducing would level the 
playing field for veterans by requiring the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to guarantee that veterans in every State have access to 
hospital care within their borders. As it stands now, New Hampshire is 
the only state in the nation without a full-service VA hospital or 
military hospital providing equivalent care to veterans. Specifically, 
the Veteran's Health Equity Act would require the VA to either provide 
a full-service VA hospital in every State or contract with civilian 
hospitals to provide veterans with a comparable level of care.
  While some States, like Alaska and Hawaii, rely on large military 
medical facilities to compensate for gaps in VA medical care, New 
Hampshire lacks the military medical facilities to compensate for a 
lack of a full-service VA hospital. Yet, New Hampshire has one of the 
highest rates of veterans per capita in the country. New Hampshire 
veterans must travel out of State to Maine, Massachusetts, or Vermont 
to access certain kinds of specialty care. Elderly veterans are often 
bused by volunteers during the treacherous winter months to an out of 
state service provider only to have their appointment canceled. Simply 
put, the lack of a full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire is 
unacceptable and our veterans deserve better.
  As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I will continue to press 
for a full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire and explore all 
legislative remedies to ensure that our New Hampshire veterans receive 
the care they deserve. My 95 year old grandfather, John Sullivan, a 
World War II veteran, and veterans like him who have selflessly served 
our country, have earned high-quality medical care that is commensurate 
with their courageous service. We must honor our commitments to 
America's brave veterans. The Veteran's Health Equity Act will help 
ensure every veteran in the United States can access quality medical 
care without having to travel to another State.
                                 ______